OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous ultrasound (US) compared with placebo US combined with conventional physiotherapy program for patients with cervical spondylosis. METHODS: This was a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Patients, diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, were randomly assigned to one of two groups in an orthopedic physical therapy clinic: a group that received electrotherapy, exercise, hot packs, and therapeutic US (true US group) and a group that received electrotherapy, exercise, hot packs, and sham US (sham US group). Patients were treated, on average, three times per week for 4 weeks. Outcome measurements were collected at baseline and after 4 weeks using the numeric pain rating scale, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, and Neck Disability Index. RESULTS: Analysis of variance showed that both groups had improved regarding numeric pain rating scale, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, and Neck Disability Index (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between both groups for pretest and post-test values (p > 0.05) for all measures. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of US to conventional physiotherapy program of electrotherapy, exercise, and hot packs yields no additional benefit to neck pain, function, or disability in patients with cervical spondylosis.
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